2010 - a vintage year or more like vinegar?

[Billysboots]

As the end of the competition season rapidly approaches how would you rate your golfing year?

Like most golfers, I set myself targets every year. And like the majority, I fail to achieve them!

This year my primary goal was to get to single figures, having started with a handicap of 11. I am close, currently standing at 10.1, so that goal is still within reach.

I have also broken through some mental barriers this year. Having never shot sub-80 in a competition, I have done so three or four times during 2010, winning my first ever board competition in the process. And a gross 2 over off the yellows yesterday took three shots off my personal best.

So for me, as I start to look forward to 2011, this year has already been a vintage one on the course with a month or so of competitive golf still to play.

How about you? A good year, or one to forget?

 

[Aztecs27]

Well since this year has seen me get back into playing golf, been playing *ok* for a 6 year break from the game AND to top it off I have aquired a new driver, lob wedge and set of Mizuno Irons, I'd say it's gone very well.

The icing on the cake is finding a new club that I'm happy to call home which I shall shortly become a member of for the paltry sum of £335/year.

Vintage for me!....Until next year where I enter comps and get utterly frustrated with this stupid game.

 

[HRC99]

First real competitive season for me and a good one.

I wanted to get down from 18 to 13 this year and have definitely achieved that. It remains to be seen whether I can improve on my 12.4 handicap at the moment in the last couple of competitions.

I've won twice individually including a board competition, a further couple of times in less serious pairs outings and placed in several more. I also managed a 4th in 3rd division open which I was delighted with.

I've also broken 80 eight or nine times now this year (including a couple in comps) which has given me real belief that I can go a bit lower still.

Looking forward to the last couple of medals and then a fun winter league and plenty of practice over the winter.

 

[chrisd]

I consider it pretty ok. I started with having to recover from a replacement hip and set a target of 10 from 13.3. I have reached 11.3 now and have one of the Major club competitions under my belt this year. I still have 2 competitions left that are qualifying and, on Sunday, shot a nett 71 and left at least 5 shots out on the course

Even if nothing more happens this season it's a great base to work from next spring

 

[brendy]

First year in 4 for the handicap to fall, second year in a row to win a competition too (two, also was a member of a winning fourball comp also, and yes I contributed quite a bit!)

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Started at 11.3 with a goal of single figures. Currently 12.0 so no real damage done in terms of handicap but not the progress I'd have wanted. On the other side of the coin I won one a major (club honours board) event albeit in a pairs event with HTL doing most of the work. Still a win is a win. I played with a few guys from here and had a real god time with all of them, especially everyone who came to the GM Day at Ascot and the guys who played in the Macmillan Longest Day.

Thanks to the forum advice I'm not getting so wrapped up with swing thoughts on the course and hitting it and finding it although it is still hard to do especially in a medal and you start double, double but we're making progress.

I've tried losts of the shiny new kit offerings out which has been fun. Everyone liks a new club and I've enjoyed hitting the Ping gear, the 47 versions of the R9 and will be giving the new Mizzy irons a go on Sunday.

All in all a mixed and varied year with the good, bad and the ugly all in there at times

 

[Macster]

I have thoroughly enjoyed my years Golf, played as consistently as I have ever played, and capped it off with a Matchplay Comp Win last night to get my name on one of the Boards again, so all in all, I'm chuffed.

Started the year on 9.5, currently on 9.7, so although no Handicap reduction as yet, I have been very near all year.

2/3 Comps to go, so still focused, before the clubs get a wel earned rest during the winter, which I dont enjoy playing in.

 

[NWJocko]

I've really enjoyed it thus far, got back into it in a big way after hanging the footy boots up. Gone from18 to 14 (societyas no membership available) so progress, however modest!

Possibly a membership somewhere next year although i like the course where i play currently, one to mull over in the winter.....

 

[doubletripledouble]

Started off the season with a long and demoralising stint of the shermans. So much so that i was close to giving up and withdrawing from a October golf trip to Portugal.
Then a couple of months of playing badly and struggling into buffer. Then my season sort of took off. With the odd hickup along the way. I have played badly recently and still made buffer or get a cut...
Hopefully this seasons ups and downs are the basis of the quest for single figures next year

 

[Owen_Thomas_14]

Played my best ever golf this year, getting down to 5.6. Since then i played 7 competitions and went up 0.6 . Last weekend i played the worse i have ever done in my life . Taken a break for a while, if the hunger comes back then i might play the winter league games, if not then who knows .

 

[colint]

Total write off for me, a mixture of work commitments, injuries and not enjoying where I play have left me playing nowhere near as much as I wanted to, or need to if I'm to maintain any sort of form.

Looking forward to some good practice over the winter and a new course next year

 

[JT77]

not sure yet, having won my first comp, i guess it is a good year, have my singles knockouts final coming up, if i can win, it'll be a great year, down to my lowest of 10.3, currently 10.4, but sadly no more qualifiers as the weather has put paid to that, last one was meant to be saturday, but the rain hasnt stopped hear in so long, it'll be preferred lies through the green.

 

[Imurg]

All targets achieved.

Single figures
Winning a comp or 2
Playing lots.

All in all a good year.

 

[Toad]

I've had a good year also, after a shaky start I eventually got going and went from 11.3 to 8.6.

Won a few comps and retained my medal trophy with nett rounds of 64,65&66.

Not been out for almost 4 weeks due to work and holidays and have missed the last few medals that may have got me down to 8 but that's just being greedy

 

[John_Findlay]

Bad first 8 months. Long game deserted me, usual dodgy short game, iffy putting. Result - generally poor scoring with the odd flukey exception in the mid 70's. Handed back the few society trophies I had.

Since September it's all change. Joined a new club, had a couple of lessons, got the driving back in a big way, the irons are straight and consistently good again and some practice putting has led to great form on the baize.

Lots of fairways & greens now being being hit in regulation again for the first time in 18 months. Result - some great scoring because I rarely need to chip.

I feel a vintage end of the season coming on. Should be Cat 1 by the end of the year if my new handicap secretary has anything to do with it which should give me the confidence I need for next season.

 

[znuffzz]

This has been my first summer of golf, i started playing in decemeber last year and have thoroughly loved it.

had a few lessons, played 5-6 amazing courses inclduing some really exclusive ones.

got custom fitted and got some beautiful new sticks

broke 90, twice

so looking forward to playing some winter golf as well tbh, different conditions, nice scenary. great

didtn have any expectations at beggining of year, only to find out whether i enojy the game or not, the answer which is a resounding yes.

 

[StrangelyBrown]

Enjoyable, but my improvement seemed to stall in mid May as I wasn't able to play as much as I'd like to over the summer.

However, as it was the first year I've played since taking up the game again I can't really grumble.

 

[richart]

Not a bad year. Started at 11.9 up to 12.2, and then down to 10.8 then 9.8 and then 9.2 in three consecutive comps. Single figures again

A major winner for the first time since 1978 ! Winter foursomes, and name on the honours board.

Won a monthly stableford,and seconds in another and a monthly medal. Also a couple of seconds in charity days.

Have a feeling 2011 may not be as good

 

[DCB]

Well it's been a very inconsistent year really. handicap has risen by 0.5 and crept into Cat3 for the first time in many years. Golf has been mediocre (that's being polite !) The recent aquisition of a new driver has helped in recent times.

However, one of my goals for the year was to enjoy my golf and even though I've played like aright donkey at times, I've enjoyed my golf more this year than for a fair while.

There's always next year to try and bring the handicap back down.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

I wouldn't say it's been vintage but it's been a bit of a breakthrough year for me.

I've spent since 2006 slowly going from 9 to 12.6 without a single cut. This year I've had 3 cuts, a win in a medal and a divisional win in a s'ford. I'm still aiming for single figures and a 'lowest gross' and there's plenty of comps left for me to do that.

If I get one of those 2 I guess I'll start saying it's been a vintage year, if I don't, I'm convinced next year will be one